Game



Patented Oct. 6, 1925.

UNITED STATES 1,556,046 infirlazur oFrlcE.

ROBERT ARTHUR MUIR TAYLOR, OF MELBOURNE, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA.

' GAME.

Application filed November 27, 1923. Serial No. 677,291.

' or balloons of any suitable size and shape,

confined within a playing space of any predetermined size, by means of a net or nets which surround the sides, ends, and top of said playing space., Instead of nets, sheets of canvas or other suitable material may be used to enclose the playing space but I prefer nets. Instead of balloons, other buoyant articles may be used. Extending across the centre of the playing space from one side net to the other is a net similar to a tennis net, across which the balloons or other buoyant articles are hit by the opposing players (who are within the enclosure) either by striking same with the palm of the hand or with a small racketI or bat. yThe balloons or other buoyant articles maybe made in the form of a rope quoit, which can be easily grasped by the fingers of the player, and thrown across the net, or hit across it by the palm of the hand of the player, or by means of a small racket or bat. The balloons or other buoyant articles used, which may be of various or variegated colors, or combinations of colors, to add attractiveness, may be strengthened by cover# ing them with a net made of 'some light material, and may have advertisements on them. The nets for enclosing the playing space are constructed of either string, cord, twine, tape, jute, hemp, cotton, rug-Wool or other suitable material, or a combination of two or more of them, and of any color or colors or combination of colors. Further, the balloons or other buoyant articles, may, if found necessary, be weighted in any approved manner in order to reduce their buoyancy. In playing the game, the object is to hit the balloon or balloons or other buoyant articles across the net to the opposing player or players, each of whom must return the balloon or other buoyant article before it strikes the ground, otherwise he loses a point in the scoring. Owing to the buoyancy of the balloon or other buoyant article, when hit by a player, it frequently comes into contact either with the bodies of the players or with one of the side nets or the top of the enclosure, and thus causes it to rebound therefrom at all sorts of angles, thus rendering its return,

- while still in the air, more difficult.l The net enclosing the playing space may be made in one piece, or three orl five pieces, the latter for. preference. When made in more than one piece, the separate pieces are attached vto the edges of that portion constituting the top, by means of hooks, or other suitable attachments, so as to hang vertically therefrom. Attached to each of the four corners of the top are cords which are adapted to engage with hooks projectingv either from the walls on opposite sides of a room, or other suitable supports, when the game is played in a room, or from oppositely arranged posts or other suitable supports, when played out-of-doors. When such cords are in which are about seven feet or other suitable height from the floor or ground level, the top net is in a horizontal position. If said top n et is made integral with its ends and sides, the said ends and sides are turned` down so that they extend vertically downwards from the edges of said top. If said ends, or said ends and sides are made separate from the top, they are simply hooked or otherwise attached to the edges of said top, so as to extend vertically downwards therefrom. The net over which vthe balloons or other buoyant articles are served, is provided with a cord at each top corner thereof, which cords are adapted to engage with hooks projecting either from the walls on opposite sides of a room or other suitable supports, when the game is played in a room, or from oppositely arranged'posts or other suitable supports, when played outof-doors. By this means, the net is kept in position. If preferred, the ends of the cross netmay be attached to the side nets. The sides and ends of the nets enclosing the playing space are weighted at their lower ends, or they may be fastened to the floor of a room or the ground in any approved way, so as to be held taut and to prevent the balloons escaping. The top, side, and end nets to enclose the playing space, as well as the net over which the balloons or other buoyant articles are served, may be engagement with said hooks,

decorated with colored tassels or other suitable ornaments and have folly bells or toy bells or tinklers attached to said nets to emit musical sounds as the nets shake during play. vvWhen the gaine is played indoors, suitable narrow openings may be left between the bottom edges of the side or end nets (or both) and the floor, or the top edges of them and the top net, such openings being of su'tiicient size to allow the balloons to escape into the room when hit by the players. This modification quickens the4 game, as the escape of a balloon means the loss of a point in scoring. A further modification in the case of the indoor game consists of a second horizontal net parallel with the top horizontal net, and about three feet from. the floor. tal net isA used, the ends of the enclosure are dispensed with, and the balloons are hit over this net and also the cross net. outside play, the nets constituting the enclosure maybe made of wire, so .asto better withstandfthe weather. 'y

Referring to the drawings hereto annexed: Figure l isa perspective View of a playing space. surrounded on both sides, both ends, and also on top, by nets, the side and end nets being detachably connected to the edges of then top net, and a net like a tennis net extending across the centre of the playing space from one side net to the other.'

Figure 2 is a plan view. of a net for surrounding a playing space, said net being made in one piece, the sides and ends being adapted to be turned down to hang vertically from the edges of the top net, when the latter is suspended in a horizontal posi'- tion. f 'i Figure 3 is a plan view of nets for surrounding a playing space, the top and two side nets being made in one piece,`while the two end nets are separate and adapted to be detachably connected to the edges of the top net. i

Figure t is a plan view of nets for surrounding a playing space, the top, the two sides, and the two ends being made in separate pieces, the sides and ends being adapted to be detachably connected to the edges of the top net.

Figure 5 is an elevation of the net which lVhen this second horizon- Foi" extends midway across the centre of the playing space from one side net to the other.

l is the top net, 2 the end nets, and 3 theside nets. 4 are hooks by meansof which said end and side'nets are detachably connected to .the edges of the top net l, when not made integral therewith. 5 are cords, one at each ofthe four corners of the top l. 6 are hooks projecting from walls or posts or other suitable supports, 7, to which said cords are attached, to hold the top net in a horizontal position. If preferred, instead of having one cord 5 at each of the four corners, there may be two, arranged at right angles to one another, in which case hooks projecting from walls or posts or other suitable supports Inust'be provided, so that the top net may be strained both as regards its` length and breadth.- 8 is the playing space, and 9 is a net, like a tennis net, which extends across the centre of the playing space from; one side net3'tofthe other of said nets. l0 are cords, one at each end of net 9, and 11 are hooks projecting. from walls or posts,

or other'suitable supports, 12, to which saidv cords l0 are attached to` hold said net 9 in a vertical position. 13 is a balloon within the playing space 8. The meeting edges of y the side and end nets may be hooked together toV prevent the balloons or other buoyant articles escaping fromthe playing space.

I claim:

l. A game apparatus comprising a buoyant element, a net providing a playing space and coniiningsaid element, and a net extending across said space about middle way its length, said buoyant element being adapted toi-be hit by the players across said net.

V2. vA game apparatus comprising a buoyant element, a net providing a playing space and confining said element, and a net extending across said space about middle way its length, said buoyant element being adapted to be hit by the players across said net, the first mentioned net including sides, ends and a top and being made in live pieces,` the sides and ends being detachably connected to the top, and means for maintaining the sides and ends in taut condition whereby to prevent the escape of the buoyant element from the playing space.

ROBERT ARTHUR MUIR TAYLOR. 

